NEWSLETTER (15:15)
Next GBCP Meeting (30 March)
The agenda for this is attached along with reports. The meeting is an open
one, so everybody welcome.
The main issues include access issues on our high streets; decisions on
environmental expenditures and further discussion on the GBCP ‘Community Plan’.
Hard copies will be available from Southville Centre in the next couple of days
and there will be a few at the meeting.
Age-friendly Cities
Most of you won’t want to wade through the info below, but a few might.
You’ll see it’s mainly at the older end of the spectrum, but my view is Bristol
should be ALL age-friendly. Bristol has declared that it wishes to be
recognised as Age-friendly by WHO. So far, only one British city has been
recognised by WHO as friendly for older people. That’s Manchester. Several
have been recognised as child and young people friendly and the nearest one to
us is Bath. I neither case does the recognition suggest perfection, but
rather being on a determined journey towards greater friendliness.
WORKING DOCUMENT = LOTS TO THINK ABOUT HERE:
http://www.northern-consortium.org.uk/assets/Policy%20Documents/Health%20and%20Wellbeing/age%20friendly%20communities%20final%20report.pdf
IRELAND:
https://www.facebook.com/AgeFriendlyCommunities
http://agefriendlyireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DD-brochure_web.pdf
NEW YORK:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dfta/downloads/pdf/age_friendly/agefriendlynyc.pdf
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION:
http://agefriendlyworld.org/en/guides-and-toolkits/
http://agefriendlyworld.org/en/
Recent meetings around this issue have led to discussion on the Neighbourhood
Partnerships Together forum about what this means at neighbourhood level and
who is doing what.
Age-friendly Challenge
We understand that an elite corps of BCC officers and university researchers
(probably in an underground bunker!!) are working out what an All Age-friendly
Bristol would look like. Please help them with your own ideas for making
Greater Bedminster, or particular bits of it, more age-friendly. By mid-April
(or better still, NOW) send me one or two sentences starting ‘For an ALL
age-friendly neighbourhood, we need to get rid of (abolish, ban, remove
etc)...........’ or ‘We need to establish (introduce, have more of
etc)........................ Or one of each. Concentrate on young or older
people if you want or suggest things that will be good for both.
We’ll publish the whole list whether it’s 3, 30 or 300 in a future GBCP
NEWSLETTER, so don’t let your ideas get left out.
I wonder if any of the council and parliamentary candidates running for
election in May across our area will pick up this issue? Why not ask when you
see one?
North Street Summer Fair
This is organised by North Street Traders Association and will be on 27 June
(10.30-5). Over 40 stalls, live music, entertainment and the chance to visit
the independent shops and cafes will make this a great day out for all ages.
If you are interested in having a stall, please contact email
<email obscured> . Also, why not investigate
www.facebook.com/northstreetbristol ?
Let’s Walk Bedminster
Unfortunately, too few people were available to staff the Let’s Walk Bedminster
North Street stall on Saturday, 28 March. It has therefore been cancelled.
Bristol Parks Forum
The next meeting will be on Saturday, 18 April from 9.30 to 12.30 at Windmill
Hill City Farm. The Forum is the coordinating body for park and green spaces
groups across Bristol. It is in regular touch with BCC Parks Department on a
range of issues.
Funding available
Don’t forget that there is funding available from Let’s Walk Bedminster for
ideas to improve the walking environment. Send to Ben for an application
pack. The closing date is April 6.
There is also £1431 left in the Clean & Green Fund for this financial year.
If you have an ideas that will make Greater Bedminster Cleaner and Greener
contact <email obscured> asap.
Grow For It
Newly launched youth funding project. Young (12-25) poet, filmaker or
designer with an interest in the outdoors? Original and creative ideas
needed to raise awareness about UK native wildflowers and plants. £500
available per project. Closing date: 2 April. See
www.growwilduk.com/grow-for-it for details.
Good Garden Award, 2015
We are looking for judges for this year. If you would like to undertake a
round or two between June 8 and July 5, contact <email obscured> for more
details. No particular horticultural knowledge is required, just a good eye
for an attractive garden.
Better Bedminster Community Chest
The Community Chest offers small grants from BCC’s Wellbeing Fund. Details
are set out in the application pack. Please note the following timetable.
April 1: Applications open. An application pack can be obtained from
<email obscured>
May 29: Applications close.
June ??: An Awards Panel will meet at a date and place not yet decided.
June 24: The recommendations of the Awards Panel will go to the GBCP Board
Meeting for decision.
More trees, please
The Bristol Tree forum are urging all Neighbourhood Partnerships to include
‘More trees’ in our Neighbourhood Plan. They point out the following
benefits:
1. Visual amenity (including improved well-being, mental health and reduced
crime levels);
2. Climate change resilience, including reductions of the urban heat island
effect and associated deaths;
3. Reduction of rainwater run off with less surface water flooding and reduced
pollution into the rivers and seas;
4. Reduction in air pollution, particularly diesel particulates;
5. Increased bio-diversity;
6. Increased food provision with fruit production and pollinator numbers;
7. Economic benefits to high streets and home owners.
Currently, GBCP ranks 14th out of 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships for tree cover.
Patchwork Group
The next outing for the Patchwork Group will be on Thursday, 26 March. From
6.30pm they will be tending the community garden on Stackpool Road (opposite
the school) and then to the pub. On Saturday, March 28 they will be tidying
up the Clifton Street (off west Street) community garden from 10am.
Please pass this on to others and invite them to join the circulation list.
Let me know if you want to drop out.